About A Girl: Lana, Our Senior Store Manager

You all know this instance… when you meet someone for the first time, yet it feels like just yesterday the two of you were reminiscing on family and childhood fun. Yes, those that you’ve known for seconds are also subsequently the same person you’ve known for years.

Lana is one of these souls.

She recently moved to San Francisco from Philly… A Free People staple, she has worked for the company for almost ten years and exudes the free spirited easy-goes-it spirit that is so true, so her, so completely original.

I met Lana in her new neighborhood (Bernal Heights) in San Francisco… a city I lived in for nearly 5 years before moving out to Sonoma for farm life. I had my happy feet on as we walked around stopping into shops and chatting about life, love, and purpose.

When I asked about the duo “love” tattoos she wears on each arm. A simple answer… “I’m in love with love.”

Yes, she’s a keeper.

Lana is wearing the FP New Romantics Paris in the Morning Tunic.

How would you best describe San Francisco if it were a person?

A modern day hippie.

Your favorite find thus far since living there?

Hillside Supper Club. We stopped here on the night we found out we got our apartment in Bernal Heights. It’s just a few blocks away. The chef-owned restaurant has the kindest, most welcoming staff. We immediately felt like a part of the community, and have stopped back there frequently, be it for a warm cookie, dinner, a drink or brunch. Their motto “come as strangers, leave as friends” could not be more true.

You’ve worked at Free People for years now… what do you love most about your job?

I’ve been with URBN Inc. for almost 10 years! FP coming up on 4 years next month. I absolutely love the women (& men!) who make up this brand. I’ve moved from coast to coast (more than once!) and have always had a family within the brand.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

I want to live in the Netherlands some day. The simplicity in lifestyle seems so lovely.

Three things you would love to learn/master/execute…

Learn: To knit.

Master: Yoga.

Execute: Hosting my family at our tiny SF apartment (that’s 11 people!) for Thanksgiving next month.

Tell me about your ink….

I started when I was 18… and haven’t stopped. I only ever wanted things that made me happy, or made me smile. So… I happen to have a lot of silly/pretty/happy tattoos. Not many of them mean anything, but probably 1/2 of them are best friend tattoos!

You wouldn’t ever wear…..

A bodycon dress.

Coffee or tea?

Coffee. Every day. Black.

Favorite decade?

70’s. Cliche? Maybe, but I’d want to go back and hang out with my mom.

Keith or Mick?

Believe it or not, I didn’t grow up listening to rock and roll. It was folk or oldies, or show tunes. So I pick Stevie Nicks. :)

If you have to choose one outfit to wear for a year… what would that choice be?

A maxi dress, killer pair of boots, and my fringe leather jacket.

What does your future look like… 5 years from now say?

Hopefully still in SF (I have a knack for not staying in one place for very long), always with FP, even deeper in love with my man… more traveled, wiser…

Paint me a picture of you at 70 years of age….

A true meadow. Long white hair, flowy maxi dresses and kimonos, living in a cottage on a mountain with my love. Growing our own food, strong and healthy…

Love is…

Being known and accepted/appreciated for exactly who you are.